Therapeutic treatment and management of lower bowel dysfunction

Author(s): J. H. Herbert - Pages: 46–47

Abstract

Lower bowel dysfunction is a very general term that covers a range of conditions affecting the colon, rectum and anal canal. The two most prevalent lower bowel conditions are anal incontinence and constipation. Lower bowel dysfunction can affect both men and women, with similar numbers experiencing faecal incontinence as they age. However, in younger women, anal incontinence is frequently associated with childbirth. Constipation has a greater prevalence than anal incontinence. Conservative therapy can be effective for both faecal urgency/anal incontinence and chronic constipation, particularly disordered defecation, and patient education is a mainstay of treatment. It can also be important to teach patients about the use of laxatives or rectal preparations, if appropriate. Other management strategies can be useful, such as devices designed to assist perineal splinting or anal irrigation devices. The aim of treatment is to improve the quality of life of this group of patients so that their bowel control issues do not have a negative impact on their lives.

Keywords: lower bowel dysfunction, management, treatment.